Footwear for nordic skiing

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a ski boot comprising a sole and a transverse connector affixed to the sole, the transverse connector being adapted to be retained by a ski binding, the transverse connector being is arranged beneath the sole, and the sole having a clearance that includes an abutment surface beneath the front end of the sole, the abutment surface being adapted to come into abutment against an elastic buffer of the ski binding.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 09 02923, filed on Jun. 16, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.

This application also relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. P38524), filed concurrently with this application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a boot for the practice of Nordic skiing, in which the skier alternately raises and lowers the heel, such as when practicing Telemark skiing, ski touring, roller skiing, or cross-country skiing.

2. Description of Background and Other Information

Ski bindings for the practice of Nordic skiing generally comprise a plate provided with a retaining device for removably binding the ski boot of a skier.

In a binding of this type, the front end of the boot is assembled to the ski, while enabling movement about a transverse pin (generally, a pivot movement), which is affixed to the boot. In a known manner, the pin of the boot is maintained between a fixed jaw and a movable jaw of the retaining device of the binding. The movable jaw is mounted on a slide that is movable longitudinally along the axis of the ski, i.e., along a vertical longitudinal plane, the movement of the jaw being operated with a lever.

The retaining device also defines a housing for an elastic buffer having a support surface that cooperates with a vertical surface of the front end of the ski boot. The elastic buffer is adapted to exert a return force on the boot when the heel of the boot is raised from the upper surface of the ski.

To cooperate with the elastic buffer, ski boots have reinforcements at their front ends; such reinforcements protect the tip of the ski boot from excessive deformation.

As a result, the upper is less flexible at the end of the foot than in other areas, which can cause discomfort for the skier after prolonged use.

Moreover, the end of the skier's foot does not always provide a stable support enabling the skier to have satisfactory control of the ski handling and sensory sensations to be properly transmitted in the area of the skier's foot.

Indeed, the advanced position of the pivot, i.e., plumb with the tip of the boot, biases the boot, especially in torsion, while the skier is steering the ski.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the present invention provides for an improved ski boot, which enables a better handling of the ski by optimizing the transmission of steering forces or of sensory information between the skier and the ski.

To this end, the invention relates to a ski boot that includes a sole and a connector, i.e., a transverse element, such as a pin, affixed to the sole, the transverse element being structured and arranged to be engaged with and retained by a ski binding, the transverse element being arranged under the sole, i.e., being exposed at the bottom of the boot, and the sole having a clearance that includes an abutment surface under the front end of the sole, the abutment surface being constructed and arranged to abut against an elastic buffer of a ski binding.

The transverse element is arranged at a distance, on the order of 6% of the length of the upper, at right angles with the front end of the boot upper. For example, the transverse element is provided to be arranged at a distance ranging between 13 and 20 millimeters, at right angles with the front end of the upper. This is a good compromise for a set-back position of the transverse element. Indeed, this improves the steering of the ski, created by a good control of the support surfaces, and offers a possibility of a range of movements for the boot.

The angle of the clearance, between a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski and the abutment surface, ranges between 0° and 80°, for example. In a particular embodiment, the angle of the clearance ranges between 0° and 40°.

Thus, during compression of the elastic buffer, the support surface no longer comes into abutment against the end of the toes of the skier's foot but is offset to be under the foot, which makes it possible to increase the force exerted by the skier, also providing the skier with better support stability and greater precision of movement.

The lever effect around the transverse connector of the boot is accentuated so that torsion of the boot is reduced in the area of the upper and the sole, which improves handling, i.e., allowing for a better control of the ski.

Moreover, the feeling of comfort is progressive in the entire boot; the skier no longer noticing any abrupt change in the flexibility of the sole of the boot. This results in a better sensory transmission between the skier's foot and the ski.

According to one or several other characteristics of the ski boot, taken alone or in combination:

-   -   the abutment surface extends between the transverse element and         the front end the sole or of the upper;     -   the abutment surface has a convex bulging shape;     -   the abutment surface is planar and inclined;     -   the abutment surface is shaped like a staircase or is serrated;     -   the abutment surface has a plurality of facets;     -   the sole has a longitudinal guiding groove extending from a         front end of the boot to a rear end, the abutment surface being         arranged in the extension of the front of the guiding groove;     -   the sole has an additional transverse binding connector element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be implemented, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a ski, as well as a perspective bottom view of an associated boot according to a first embodiment of the invention, the ski having a movable jaw in position near a fixed jaw, the ski and the boot being disassembled;

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip of the boot, i.e., the front end of the boot, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the ski of FIG. 1, as assembled with the boot of FIG. 2, shown in cross section, in a first position in which the heel of the boot is supported on the ski;

FIG. 4 shows the assembled ski and boot of FIG. 3, in a second position in which only the tip of the boot is supported on the ski;

FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip of a ski boot according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 a is a view, similar to FIG. 5, of a ski boot according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 6 b is a view, similar to FIG. 6 a, of a ski boot according to an alternative of the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 5, of a ski boot according to a fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of a boot according to a fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawing figures, identical elements bear the same reference numerals. In the following description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “high,” “low,” “horizontal,” and “vertical” are used with reference to the upright position of the skier.

FIG. 1 shows a ski and a boot for the practice of Nordic skiing, in which the skier alternately raises and lowers the heel, such as when practicing Telemark skiing, ski touring, roller skiing, or cross-country skiing. In the following description, the various types of skiing encompassed within the disciplines known generically as Nordic skiing will be referred to generally as cross-country skiing, or even simply as skiing, although such reference should not be interpreted in a way that has a limiting effect on the scope of the invention.

The ski 1 comprises a gliding board 2 on which a binding 3 is mounted.

The binding 3 includes a plate 4, or base, adapted to be fixed to the gliding board 2, as well as a retaining device 5 for removably retaining a ski boot 6.

The retaining device 5 comprises a fixed jaw 7 and a movable jaw 8. The movable jaw 8 can move between a distant position and a near position (FIGS. 1 and 3) with respect to the fixed jaw 7. To this end, the movable jaw 8 is mounted to be longitudinally displaceable along the longitudinal axis L of the ski 1, on a slide 9 of the retaining device 5. The slide 9 can be manually operated using a lever 10 of the retaining device 5. One can also provide for the slide to be capable of being displaced in an automatic manner. The slide 9 is provided at the front of the binding 3 on the gliding board 2. Examples of bindings which incorporate movable and fixed jaws are disclosed in the following documents, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties, particularly for this purpose: U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,474; U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,947; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,695.

The boot 6 includes a sole 11 to which an upper 12, having an opening 13 for insertion of the foot of a skier, is affixed.

The sole 11 and the upper 12 extend longitudinally along the longitudinal axis L′, from the heel 14 at a rear end to the tip 15 at a front end, the longitudinal axis L′ of the sole 11 and the longitudinal axis L of the ski 1 being parallel or substantially parallel.

The boot 6 further has a first transverse connector 16, such as a pin or pivot, perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L′ of the boot 6, or of the sole 11, and affixed to the sole, arranged at or proximate to the front of the sole 11. The ends of the transverse connector 16 are embedded in the sole 11, such as extending across the channel or clearance 25 and secured to opposite walls defining such channel or clearance. The connector 16 can be flush with the lowermost surface of the sole or spaced somewhat above such lowermost surface.

The transverse connector 16 of the boot 6 is structured and arranged to be capable of being inserted between the fixed jaw 7 and the movable jaw 8 of the binding 3, when the jaws 7 and 8 are spaced apart in an open position of the binding, and of being maintained by the jaws 7, 8 in a closed position of the binding, the latter thus preventing the transverse connector 16 from coming out of its housing between the jaws, thereby fixing the front of the boot 6 to the ski 1. In the illustrated example, the connector 16 has a circular cross section, although other cross-sectional shapes could be used within the scope of the invention.

The transverse connector 16 is arranged beneath the sole 11, at a distance d1 on the order of 6% of the length of the upper 12, i.e., from the front end of the upper. More precisely, the distance d1 is the horizontal distance between the axis of the transverse connector 16 and a vertical projection from the front end of the upper 12, in a plane parallel to the surface of the ski containing the axis of the transverse connector 16.

The distance d1 ranges between 13 and 20 millimeters (mm), or between approximately 13 mm and approximately 20 mm, at right angles with the front end of the upper 12. For a length of the upper 12 of about 24 cm (i.e., size 39 in the European system; men's size 7 in the U.S. system), the transverse connector 16 is arranged at a distance of about 14 mm at right angles with the front end of the upper 12. Stated another way, the transverse connector 16 is arranged at a distance d1 from the front end of the upper approximately 6% of the length of the upper 12, measured between projections of the upper front end and the transverse connector, the projections intersecting a longitudinal axis L′ of the boot at right angles.

The retaining device 5 of the binding 3 also defines a housing for an elastic buffer 17 having a support surface 18 a on its upper wall, adapted to come into abutment against an abutment surface 18 b at the bottom of the sole 11 of the ski boot 6. The housing for the buffer is provided in the slide 9, between the arms of the lever 10 of the binding 3.

The elastic buffer 17 is structured and arranged to exert a return force on the boot 6 when the boot heel 14 is raised from the upper surface S of the ski 1. Thus, once the ski and the boot are assembled to one another, the boot 6 can pivot about the transverse connector 16 against the elastic buffer 17.

Moreover, the channel or clearance 25 of the sole 11 defined at least in part by an abutment surface 18 b, the abutment surface comprising a bottom surface of a front end of the sole 11, the abutment surface 18 b being structured and arranged to come into abutment with the support surface 18 a of the elastic buffer 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the abutment surface 18 b has a slightly convex bulging shape. Alternatively, a concave shape is also encompassed within the scope of the invention.

The angle β of the channel or clearance 25, between a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the upper surface S of the ski and the abutment surface 18 b, ranges between 0° and 80°. In the case of a bulging abutment surface 18 b, the angle β is determined from the tangent of the abutment surface 18 b with the front end of the sole 11. The angle β of the channel or clearance 25 can range between 0° and 40°; for example, in a particular embodiment, the angle α is approximately 30°.

Thus, during compression of the elastic buffer 17 (FIG. 4), the support surface 18 a no longer comes into abutment against the toes of the skier's foot, or against the front of the toes of the skier's foot, but is offset to be beneath the skier's foot, which makes it possible to increase the force exerted by the skier, also providing the skier with better support stability and greater precision of movement.

The lever effect around the transverse connector 16 of the boot 6 is accentuated so that torsion of the boot is reduced in the area of the upper 12 and the sole 11, which enables the skier to have better control of the steering of the ski 1.

Moreover, the feeling of comfort is progressive along the entire boot; the skier no longer notices any abrupt change in the flexibility of the sole 11 of the boot. This results in a better sensory transmission between the skier's foot and the ski. The skier no longer has the feeling of his/her toes abutting against the buffer, which thereby results in greater comfort.

According to an embodiment of the elastic buffer, the angle α between the support surface 18 a and a plane substantially parallel to the upper surface S of the ski 1 ranges between 0° and 80° (FIG. 1). The angle α is measured while the elastic buffer 17 is not subjected to compressive deformation on its support surface 18 a. In a particular embodiment, for example, the angle α ranges between 0° and 40°.

According to a particular embodiment, the elastic buffer 17 comprises two portions, including an embedding portion and a portion designed more specifically for the aforementioned deformation. The embedding portion of the buffer is embedded in the housing provided for this purpose in the retaining device of the binding 3, whereas the deformation portion of the buffer 17 is structured and arranged to cooperate more particularly with the boot 6 via the associated support surface 18 a during rotation of the boot 6 with respect to the ski 1.

The housing provided in the retaining device for the elastic buffer 17 has, in the transverse direction, dimensions that are greater than those of the elastic buffer 17, allowing an expansion of the buffer 17 in the transverse direction during its compression by the boot 6, without hindering its insertion in the housing.

The deformation portion of the elastic buffer 17 externally has the general shape of an accordion, including a series of parallel grooves or notches 19 in the side walls of the buffer 17. The external notches 19 are adapted to allow for a better compression of the elastic buffer 17 by stacking of the various successive layers defined between each of the grooves or notches 19 (see FIG. 4, more particularly).

The plate 4 of the binding can also have a longitudinal guiding rib 21 with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the ski. The guiding rib 21 is adapted to cooperate with a groove 22 having a complementary shape, which is provided beneath the sole 11 of the boot 6 for laterally maintaining the boot assembled to the binding 3 in a first position in which the heel 14 of the boot is supported on the ski.

The guiding rib 21 has a generally parallelepipedic shape and has a length ranging between 28 and 35 centimeters (cm) and a width of about 2 cm. It can be extended at the front by means of the fixed jaw 7.

The guiding rib 21 can be continuous or sectioned by at least one transverse slit or groove 23 a, 23 b. For example, the guiding rib 21 is adapted to be is sectioned in order to enable the ski 1 to preserve good flexibility, i.e., so that the attachment of the plate and the rib along a length of the ski does not have the effect of adversely rigidifying the ski along that length.

The sole 11 of the boot has a longitudinal guiding groove 22 having a complementary shape, extending from the tip 15 to the heel 14 of the boot. The abutment surface 18 b can be arranged at the front, in the extension of the guiding groove 22.

The guiding groove 22 then has a generally parallelepipedic complementary shape having a width of 3 cm, for example. Other embodiments are encompassed within the scope of the invention for the guiding groove and rib, such as trapezoidal cross-sectional shapes or shapes that are narrowed towards the rear ends of the groove and rib.

According to a second embodiment of the clearance 25 shown in FIG. 5, the abutment surface 28 b is planar and inclined. In this particular example, the abutment surface 28 b extends between the transverse connector 16 and the front end of the sole 11, while passing plumb or at a right angle with the front end of the upper.

According to a third embodiment of the clearance 25 shown in FIG. 6 a, the abutment surface 38 b has a stair-shape, or sawtooth shape. In this case, the angle β is determined from a straight line passing through the ends of the steps of the stairs or points of the teeth.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6 b, the abutment surface 48 b has a serrated shape. In this case, the angle β is determined from a straight line passing by the ends or points of the serrations of the abutment surface 48 b. In this particular example, the abutment surface 48 b extends between the transverse connector 16 and the front end of the sole 11.

According to a fourth embodiment of the clearance 25, the abutment surface 58 b has a plurality of facets, the general shape of which is convex (FIG. 7) or concave. In the case of a facetted abutment surface, the angle α is determined from the tangent with respect to the facet passing through the front end of the sole 11.

According to a fifth embodiment, the sole 11 of the ski boot 6 has an additional transverse connector 24, i.e., such as a transverse pivot or pin.

In a first alternative of the fifth embodiment the attachment plate comprises a hook fixed to the plate by a return mechanism that enables the skier to return the heel towards the ski, after the heel of the boot has been raised. This embodiment is more particularly suited for the practice of cross-country skiing using the “skating step” technique, a style which, in the area of the legs, can be compared to in-line roller skating or ice skating. In this regard, see, e.g., the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,474 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,947.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second alternative of the fifth embodiment of the boot, in which the sole 11 of the ski boot 6 is provided with the additional transverse connector 24. The additional, or second, transverse connector 24 is set back from the transverse connector 16. For example, the additional transverse connector 24 and the transverse connector 16 are spaced apart by 5 cm or approximately 5 cm. In other words, the additional connector 24 is further in the rear than the first connector 16.

The guiding rib 21 is then sectioned by a transverse slit or groove 23 b configured for passage of the additional transverse connector 24. The transverse slit or groove 23 b therefore extends right through the guiding rib 21. It can be straight or it can have a sufficiently wide rounded shape for passage of the additional transverse straight connector 24.

This second alternative embodiment is adapted to the practice of cross-country skiing using the so-called “alternate step” or “conventional” technique, which involves advancing in two parallel tracks. In this alternative embodiment, the return function of the additional transverse connector 24 is not activated, so that the skier can continue using boots which include the additional transverse connector. The skier can then be equipped with two pairs of skis and only one corresponding pair of boots, a first pair of skis according to the first embodiment and a second pair of skis according to the second embodiment, the pair of boots being capable of being bound to either one of the two pairs of skis. Similarly, the skier can decide to preserve his/her ski boots already equipped with an additional transverse connector for skis that do not have the option of a return mechanism.

The ski boot therefore allows for a better handling of the ski by optimizing the transmission of steering forces or of sensory information between the skier and the ski.

This invention illustratively disclosed herein, suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 

1. A ski boot comprising: an upper; a sole; a transverse connector affixed to the sole; the transverse connector being exposed at the bottom of the sole, thereby being structured and arranged to be engaged with and retained by a ski binding; the sole having a clearance defined at least in part by an abutment surface, said abutment surface comprising a bottom surface of a front end of the sole; the abutment surface being structured and arranged to come into abutment against an elastic buffer of a ski binding to oppose movement of the ski boot.
 2. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the upper has a length extending from a front end to a rear end; the transverse connector is arranged at a distance from the front end of the upper approximately 6% of the length of the upper, measured between projections of the upper front end and the transverse connector, said projections intersecting a longitudinal axis of the boot at right angles.
 3. A ski boot according to claim 2, wherein: the transverse connector is arranged at a distance ranging between 13 and 20 millimeters, at right angles from the front end of the upper.
 4. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the angle of the clearance, between a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski and the abutment surface, with the boot mounted on the ski, ranges between 0° and 80°.
 5. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the clearance extends at an angle between a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski and the abutment surface, with the boot mounted on the ski, ranges between 0° and 40°.
 6. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the abutment surface extends between the transverse connector and a front end of the sole.
 7. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the abutment surface has a convex bulging shape.
 8. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the abutment surface is planar and inclined with respect to a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski, with the boot mounted on the ski.
 9. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the abutment surface has a stairway shape or a serrated shape.
 10. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the abutment surface has a plurality of facets.
 11. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the sole has a longitudinal guiding groove extending from a front end to a rear end of the boot, said abutment surface being arranged at the front, in the extension of said guiding groove.
 12. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein: the transverse connector is a first transverse connector; a second transverse connector is affixed to the sole and is spaced rearwardly from the first transverse connector. 